Anti-social Behaviour: Westminster

Lord Patten: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 9 January (WA 2), when the Anti-social Behaviour Unit will report on the work being done under the anti-social behaviour Trailblazer area scheme to deal with anti-social behaviour in Victoria Street and the environs of Westminster Cathedral; and when that report will be made public.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Westminster City Council, as a Trailblazer area, works with partners to tackle anti-social behaviour in Victoria Street and the environs of Westminster Cathedral. Westminster City Council has undertaken a number of initiatives to tackle anti-social behaviour, including, enhanced cleansing services, working on an exercise with local residents' groups, businesses and the Cathedral authority to "design out crime" and encouraging local businesses not to sell strong alcohol to those of vulnerable disposition. The area also has been designated as a controlled drinking zone which has proven successful in reducing levels of street drinking. A joint taskforce has been set up to tackle issues in relation to problems stemming from large numbers of people arriving in the area from EU accession countries. The Respect Taskforce receives regular updates from Westminster City Council regarding this progress. We would expect Westminster City Council to make public their work to tackle anti-social behaviour and I understand it plans to publish on its website a report of its work as a Trailblazer to tackle begging in the Westminster area for the period 2004–05 at the end of March 2006.

Armed Forces: Defence Planning Assumptions

Lord Garden: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assessment they have made of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body report of February 2006 (Cm 6740, paragraph 2.68) which states that "the Services have now been operating in excess of Defence Planning Assumptions for nine years (since 1996)"; and whether they intend to revise these assumptions accordingly.

Lord Drayson: The defence planning assumptions (DPAs) set out the military tasks that the Armed Forces should be able to perform in a form that enables long-term force structure planning and capability development to be carried out. Real operations will always differ to some degree—in terms of nature, scale, concurrency and endurance—from the DPAs. And the actual force structure will always reflect to some extent planning decisions taken when different assumptions were in force. In practice, the available force structure is used flexibly to meet actual operational demands, not to comply with artificial planning constraints.
	The DPAs are subject to routine review, taking account of historical analysis of past operations and assessment of potential future demands. The main elements of the current DPAs were set out in Chapter 2 of the Supporting Essays to the 2003 defence White Paper (Cm 6041-II). Any substantial revisions will be reported in the next defence White Paper.

Armed Forces: Nurses

Lord Garden: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assessment they have made of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body report of February 2006 (Cm 6740, paragraph 3.21) which addressed the "MoD's lack of urgency in addressing the shortfall" of service nurses; and whether they propose to take more steps to combat this shortfall.

Lord Drayson: The Ministry of Defence welcomes the opportunity to submit a further paper of evidence to the Armed Forces Pay Review Body (AFPRB) for its 2007 report, by which time we will be in a much better position to make valid comparisons between the position of our own nurses and those of the NHS as a result of "agenda for change". During the coming year we will be undertaking a thorough review of the nurses' pay structure to determine how it might be changed to ensure that military pay remains comparable with the NHS in the longer term.
	In the mean time, we will continue to build on the package of non-pay measures that we already have in place. For example, we are currently developing a new process for filling operational deployments which should reduce the operational load on the most frequently deployed groups of nurses. We are also developing roles for nurses in primary care and as autonomous nurse practitioners.

Aviation Health: Contaminated Air

Lord Tyler: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In light of the Building Research Establishment's investigation of cabin air quality for the Civil Aviation Authority, whether the establishment receives income from firms with a potential conflict of interest.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The BRE (Building Research Establishment) receives its income from its clients; which include private companies, government departments, national governments, independent public organisations like the CAA, and the European Commission.
	BRE is owned by BRE Trust, a registered charity, whose objectives are through research and education, to advance knowledge, innovation and communication in all matters concerning the environment for public benefit.
	The trust structure is designed to ensure that BRE remains independent of commercial interests, is alert to the possibility of conflicts of interest, and safeguards BRE's international reputation for objectivity and impartiality.
	The BRE work referred to was commissioned and paid for by the Department for Transport for the Aviation Health Working Group. It is available on the department's website. The DfT has no reason to suppose that the work done for it on cabin air quality was in any way undermined/compromised by conflicts of interest.

Aviation Health: Contaminated Air

Lord Tyler: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What details the Civil Aviation Authority holds in relation to the following contaminated air incidents that occurred on the following dates to British Aerospace BAe 146 aircraft: G-JEAV of 14 January 2002; G-JEAU of 10 February 2003; G-JEAS of 29 August 2003; G-JEBB of 18 January 2004; G-JEBD of 21 October 2004; G-JEBG of 14 November 200; and G-JEBD of 22 February 2005.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The details the CAA has on these incidents are as follows:
	G-JEAV of 14 January 2002
	The CAA has no record of a contaminated air incident involving G-JEAV on 14 January 2002.
	G-JEAU of 10 February 2003
	The CAA has no record of a contaminated air incident involving G-JEAU on 10 February 2003.
	G-JEAS of 29 August 2003
	The CAA has the following information:
	Just after becoming established in the cruise at FL250, all three cabin attendants reported feeling unwell, complaining of nausea and light headedness. There was no indication of any problem with cabin pressurisation or air conditioning. After shut-down the cabin attendants still felt unwell and mentioned that similar symptoms had previously been experienced on this particular aircraft. Air conditioning pack inspection accomplished in accordance with ADM1049, (ADM1049 is an inspection Task Card, incorporating pack inspections required by the aircraft manufacturer SB21-150 Rev2), but no abnormalities were found. Aircraft released back to service, no further reports.
	G-JEBB of 18 January 2004 
	The CAA has no record of a contaminated air incident involving G-JEBB on 18 January 2004.
	G-JEBD of 21 October 2004
	The CAA has no record of a contaminated air incident involving G-JEBD on 21 October 2004.
	G-JEBG of 14 November 200?
	The date in the question is incomplete. The only record of any fumes event involving this aircraft was on 14 March 2005. Details are as follows:
	During cruise, smoke was observed emanating from an oven in the rear galley and the cabin crew were instructed to attend to the situation in accordance with their Standard Operating Procedures training. A MAYDAY was declared with a request for an immediate landing at Isle of Man. After landing the aerodrome fire services attended the aircraft and confirmed that the cause of the smoke was an old crew meal jammed at the rear of the oven. The crew responded appropriately and the incident has been highlighted to remind cabin crew to check ovens for foreign objects.
	G-JEBD of 22 February 2005
	The CAA has no record of a contaminated air incident involving G-JEBD on 22 February 2005.

Aviation Health: Contaminated Air

Lord Tyler: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What details the Civil Aviation Authority holds in relation to the following contaminated air incidents that occurred on the following dates to Bombardier Dash 8 Q-400 aircraft: G-JEDP of 10 February 2005; G-JEDP of 11 February 2005; and G-JEDO of 2 April 2005.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The details the CAA has are as follows:
	G-JEDP of 10 February 2005 
	This incident was investigated by the AAIB (AAIB Bulletin 11/2005, ref: EW/G2005/20/05). A summary, from the AAIB bulletin is as follows:
	As the aircraft commenced its take-off run, the take-off warning horn sounded. The take-off was rejected, but while taxiing for another attempt, the pilots noticed a burning smell on the flight deck. When advised by the cabin crew that there was also a smell of burning and some smoke in the cabin, the commander stopped the aircraft on the taxiway and initiated an expeditious disembarkation using the forward passenger door only. An engineering investigation carried out by the operator's maintenance personnel and the engine manufacturer found that a piece of the right hand engine compressor inner support had become detached, causing damage to a compressor oil seal and allowing oil to contaminate the engine bleed air. The engine manufacturer is aware of the issues and is addressing them through component re-design and engine modifications.
	G-JEDP of 11 February 2005
	This event is connected with the occurrence of the 10 February 2005 and is also covered by AAIB Bulletin 11/2005, ref: EW/G2005/20/05.
	G-JEDO of 2 April 2005
	The CAA has the following information:
	Climbing through FL130, the nr1 cabin attendant reported an acrid plastic smell from the forward cabin air vent situated in the roof by the emergency exit sign. The nr3 cabin attendant confirmed the smell. There were no fumes in the flight deck (the air vent was closed and the flight deck door was kept shut). Emergency Check List actioned and aircraft returned. An uneventful approach, landing and taxi to stand were carried out with AFS (company) in attendance. AFS and engineering inspection carried out. Nr1 and nr3 advised of feeling sick with a taste in their throat and were taken to hospital for a check-up. Engineering investigation failed to reveal any faults or evidence of overheating, either within the galley area, where fumes were noted, or with the compressor section of the engines. However, it was noted nr1 water heater was found to be hotter to touch than the adjacent urn, with a distinct odour from the seal. Urn removed from the aircraft as a precaution and the aircraft returned to service. After initial observations and before the aircraft was released to service, both engines were inspected by borescope. No recurrence to date. The most probable cause was degradation of the urn seal.

Aviation: Global Positioning System

Lord Rotherwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What shortcomings have been found in the global positioning system (GPS) that have required the Civil Aviation Authority to initiate a programme of GPS trial approaches in the United Kingdom; and
	When the Civil Aviation Authority will conclude its trials on the global positioning system for instrument approach.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The CAA's GPS trial programme has been initiated to assess the use of GPS for instrument approach procedures, as a whole, at UK airports and in the UK aviation environment rather than because of any shortcomings. The programme will therefore explore every aspect, including the design, management and operation, needed to approve the sole use of GPS for non-precision instrument approaches specifically in the UK.
	The trial is currently scheduled to complete on 25 October 2006.

Aviation: Global Positioning System

Lord Rotherwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the integrity of the global positioning system for cross-country navigation in the United Kingdom is satisfactory.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Currently, the Civil Aviation Authority considers that the GPS should be used only to supplement conventional navigation techniques for cross-country navigation outside controlled airspace and not replace them.
	Positional accuracy for the US Global Positioning System (GPS) can vary by 10 metres or more depending on location and time. In urban areas and mountainous regions signal visibility can be obstructed.
	Future radio navigation needs will require better integrity and service guarantees; for instance, for safety-critical transport applications. Some augmentation systems are available now. The EGNOS (European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service) wide area augmentation system is expected to be certificated for civil aviation use in 2007.

Belfast: Security Barriers

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which public bodies, individuals and organisations have made representations to have the security barriers at Lower Chichester Street, Belfast, (a) removed, and (b) retained; and what stage the current review of the barriers has reached.

Lord Rooker: The Government have received representations from the PSNI, Laganside Corporation and Belfast City Council. An up-to-date security assessment from PSNI is currently being considered and a decision will be made in due course.

British Citizenship

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, having regard to the priority guidance contained in the nationality instructions, they will confirm that reconsideration of applications refused under the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1997 will be prioritised; and whether they will provide guidance on how long it will take to reconsider these applications.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Cases in which the applicant signifies his or her desire to have the application reconsidered in light of the further advice received from the Indian Government about the restrictions in Indian citizenship law on dual citizenship will be re-opened and processed as quickly as possible. Arrangements are under way to allocate additional resources and training to the task.

Crime: Samurai Swords

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they are taking to reduce the number of violent incidents in which samurai swords and other bladed weapons are used.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: New measures to tackle knife crime are included in the Violent Crime Reduction Bill, currently before Parliament. We plan to raise the age for purchasing a knife or other bladed article to 18, give head teachers powers to search pupils for weapons, and introduce a new offence of using another person to hide or carry a gun or knife. On 8 February, the Home Secretary announced that a nationwide knife amnesty would start on 24 May until the end of June. This will give people the opportunity to hand in unwanted knives and other bladed instruments for safe disposal. We also have an ongoing programme of community engagement to discuss issues around knife crime. In addition, the connected fund is supporting local community groups working to tackle gun crime, knife crime and gangs. Many of the projects supported involve working with at-risk young people to provide training and mentoring, education, diversionary activities and other projects.

Crime: Samurai Swords

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will carry out a public consultation exercise to explore options for regulating the use of samurai swords and other bladed weapons.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: It is already an offence to have a samurai sword or other bladed weapon in a public place without good reason or lawful authority. We are considering whether the sale, manufacture and hire of samurai swords should be banned.

Defence Research: QinetiQ

Lord Gilbert: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether Sir John Chisholm informed Ministers of the extent to which he was likely to derive financial benefits from the floating of QinetiQ; and, if so, when.

Lord Drayson: I refer my noble friend to the Answer I gave on 27 February 2006, (Official Report, col. WA 5).

Defence Research: QinetiQ

Lord Gilbert: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the arrangements by which Sir John Chisholm was able to benefit by over £20 million from the flotation of QinetiQ were first proposed by him to a Minister; or whether a Minister first proposed the arrangements to Sir John Chisholm.

Lord Drayson: The relevant shares schemes were negotiated as part of the public/private partnership with Carlyle in February 2003. Under the terms agreed at that time, any gains were linked directly to the growth in value of the business, which in turn is driven by the performance of QinetiQ. The value attributed to the business was determined at the IPO itself on 10 February 2006.

Disability: Employment Advisers

Baroness Wilkins: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What percentage of disability employment advisers employed by Jobcentre Plus have received deaf awareness training (a) throughout the United Kingdom, and (b) in each region of the United Kingdom; and
	What is the policy of Jobcentre Plus regarding deaf awareness training for disability employment advisers.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Information on the percentage of disability employment advisers employed by Jobcentre Plus who have received deafness awareness training is not collected nationally or regionally.
	All advisers have access to a Jobcentre Plus guide entitled External Organisations Guide to Information for Disadvantaged Customers which contains information provided by the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID). Access to relevant advice, training and guidance is covered in the disability employment adviser training.
	Advisers know that relevant communication support must be available for deaf customers. This ranges from British Sign Language interpreters and other communicators including speech-to-text operators, lip speakers, or note takers.
	Equipment which meets the needs of individuals is also available. This could include audio induction loops, high-powered earphones, radio microphones and textphones. Disability employment advisers also as part of their personal development discuss their training needs with their managers to ensure that they can work with any customer with a health condition or disability.

Education: Northern Ireland Post-primary Provision

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answers by the Lord Rooker on 31 January (WA 27 and WA 28), whether the Costello report on post-primary education in Northern Ireland is (a) derived from the Burns report; or (b) goes beyond the scope of the Burns report; and, if the latter, whether they have any plans for public consultation on the Costello report.

Lord Rooker: The remit of the Post Primary Review Working Group required it to take account of the responses to the consultation on the recommendations of the post-primary review body (the Burns report). The advice from the working group (the Costello report) was accepted by the Government in January 2004. The report was not published for consultation and responses were not therefore sought on its content.
	Aspects of the working group's recommendations, however, have been or will be the subject of consultation in the course of implementation. A consultation exercise on new admissions arrangements for post-primary schools took place between January and June 2005 and a summary report on responses received was published on 6 December 2005. A proposal for a draft Education (Northern Ireland) Order which will give effect to aspects of the new post-primary arrangements, including provisions to introduce new admissions arrangements and the entitlement framework, is the subject of a current consultation exercise. The closing date for comments is 7 March. Consultation on draft regulations setting out the detail of new admissions criteria is planned for 2007.

Employment: East Antrim

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will provide a summary of the work undertaken by the East Antrim employment task force since its formation in 2001.

Lord Rooker: The East Antrim Forum, the employment task force formed in the East Antrim area, was set up in October 2002 at the suggestion of Sir Reg Empey, who was Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment at that time. This initiative was developed as a result of significant job losses in the area, due to the downturn in the telecoms sector. The forum consisted of officials from Invest NI, the mayors and the chief executives of Carrickfergus, Larne and Newtownabbey Borough Councils, together with councils' economic development staff.
	The forum was formally brought to a close in December 2003. A final report was produced in January 2004 and the report summarises the key activities undertaken by the Forum. I have arranged for a copy of the report to be placed in the House Library for the noble Lord.

EU: UK Membership

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the answer by the Lord Triesman on 25 January (HL Deb, col. 1181), what is the justification for his statement in relation to (a) the Global Europe study by HM Treasury; (b) Professor Minford's study; and (c) Mr Ian Milne's study, A Cost Too Far, that those studies "are all based on extrapolations that go so far beyond the normal sense of where one should take an economic extrapolation that they are not in any realistic sense credible".

Lord Triesman: The Treasury's Global Europe study underlines the benefits for consumers and business associated with the single market and the potential boost to productivity and prosperity further economic reform would bring. To extrapolate from this study an economic cost to our EU membership of 4 to 10 per cent of UK gross domestic product is not credible. Applying the assumptions from one study to the analysis of another in these cases leads to erroneous conclusions.

Extraordinary Rendition Flights

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answers by the Lord Davies of Oldham on 20 December 2005 (WA 251–52) and 17 January (WA 99), whether the police, immigration or Customs services are empowered under the Chicago convention or otherwise to investigate and search aircraft suspected of being involved in acts of extraordinary rendition, where there is a serious risk of torture or other ill treatment of individuals held involuntarily on board such aircraft.

Lord Triesman: Yes. Nothing in the Chicago convention restricts the right of the appropriate authorities under UK law to board an aircraft for the purpose of arresting a person who they have reasonable grounds to suspect has committed or is committing an offence.

Families: Northern Ireland

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Northern Ireland Department of Health and Social Services has a policy and programme to support the organisation Contact in its work with separated families.

Lord Rooker: The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety is working with the Office of Law Reform to determine how best the good work of Contact centres can be supported. Financial support for these centres will be made available from the Children and Young Peoples Fund, details of which will be announced shortly.

Firearms: Northern Ireland

Lord Rogan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Under what circumstances in Northern Ireland a firearm can be deemed to be lawfully held by an individual who is not a member of the security forces; and
	Whether, prior to carrying out a search of any business or residential property in Northern Ireland, the police are required to carry out a risk assessment; and whether such an assessment would indicate the presence of a lawfully held firearm; and
	In what circumstances in Northern Ireland a firearm (other than a weapon held by the security forces) found during a police search can be deemed to be lawfully held in the absence of a firearms certificate; and
	Whether weapons found by police during searches of residential or commercial property in Northern Ireland have subsequently been deemed to be lawfully held in the absence of a firearms certificate; and
	Whether the Police Service of Northern Ireland has knowledge of all lawfully held firearms in Northern Ireland; and whether that knowledge includes the serial numbers of the weapons involved; their ballistic profile; and the individual who is their lawful holder.

Lord Rooker: A person who is not a member of the security forces may lawfully purchase, acquire or possess a firearm in Northern Ireland if he does so in accordance with the conditions of a firearm certificate granted by the chief constable under the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 or in circumstances where it is permissible to hold such a firearm without a certificate under Articles 77 or 78 of and Schedules 1 or 2 to the order.
	Records of firearms held under certificate are maintained by the Police Service of Northern Ireland and include the name of the holder, the serial number of the firearms and, in the case of handguns, the ballistic profile. The chief constable does not maintain similar records for those lawfully held firearms where a firearms certificate is not required.
	PSNI officers will conduct a risk assessment which will include a check to ascertain the presence of legally held firearms before engaging in any search activity.
	Any firearm discovered during PSNI searches of residential or commercial property which is not readily identified as being held under a firearm certificate issued by the chief constable or exempted under Article 77 or 78 of and Schedules 1 or 2 to the order is held by PSNI, in the interests of public safety, pending confirmation of its legal status. If found to be held lawfully it is returned to the owner.
	There is no legal or other process where a firearm may be "deemed" to be held lawfully. A firearm is either held lawfully as provided for by the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004, or is held illegally.

Government Departments: Executive Agencies

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which are the main statutory documents and related material which they have published concerning the origin, status and responsibilities of each of the agencies that have been created prior to and after 1997, together with their respective links with departments and accountability to Ministers and Parliament.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Executive Agencies are required to have in place framework documents that set out the strategic direction and the key accountability relationships between the chief executive and key players in the sponsor department including the Permanent Secretary and responsible Minister, in accordance with Cabinet Office and Treasury guidelines. The framework document is published on the department's website and hard copies placed in the Library.
	Key ministerial targets must be announced to Parliament each year by the sponsor Minister and performance against ministerial targets must be reported in the annual report and accounts. Annual reports and accounts are submitted to Parliament via the departmental Minister who is accountable to Parliament for the performance of his/her agencies.

Heathrow Airport

Viscount Waverley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much time the European Union Transport Directorate allowed for the implementation of measures before it downgraded the security status at Heathrow airport.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Airports in the UK are not given a security status. They are all required to operate in accordance with the same domestic, European and wider international aviation security legislation.
	The European Commission's Directorate General for Transport and Energy conducts inspections at European airports in order to monitor compliance with EU aviation security regulations. Any deficiencies identified by such inspections are required to be rectified.

Heathrow Airport

Viscount Waverley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which government body and private organisations are responsible for standards of security at Heathrow airport.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The Department for Transport is responsible for the National Aviation Security Programme. This sets out mandatory measures and associated guidance for the UK aviation industry. It covers requirements relating to aerodrome managers, aircraft operators and other "directed parties". These directed parties are responsible for implementing the relevant security measures and for complying with them. The department undertakes an ongoing programme of compliance-monitoring visits to ensure that standards are maintained.
	At Heathrow airport the requirements relating to aerodrome managers are the responsibility of Heathrow Airport Limited. Those relating to aircraft operators and others are the responsibility of those airlines flying from the airport and the relevant cargo agents and catering suppliers.
	There is also a permanent police presence at Heathrow airport.

Higher Education: Race Relations

Lord Ouseley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the view of the Commission for Racial Equality on the performance of higher education institutions in meeting their obligations under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: I have been informed by the Commission for Racial Equality that it is in the process of monitoring the performance of listed public authorities, including higher education institutions, against their obligations under the Act. It is carrying out a number of monitoring projects which will measure the performance and specific compliance of higher education institutions. These will enable the Commission for Racial Equality to assess whether the institutions have published compliant race equality policies, and whether they are routinely carrying out race equality assessments of new and proposed policies, monitoring existing policies and publishing employment data by ethnicity. These projects are due to be completed during the next 12 months.

Housing: Rent Restructuring

Lord Whitty: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What were the results of their recent review of the rent restructuring policy for social housing; and what action they will take as a result.

Baroness Andrews: The Government announced on 7 November last year that they would implement the recommendations of the three-year review in full from 1 April 2006, with the additional safeguard to tenants of a suggested 5 per cent cap on average actual rent increases for 2006-07 and 2007-08. Our intention is that authorities will have their housing revenue account (HRA) adjusted in-year to ensure they do not lose out as a result, and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will be issuing a consultation document shortly on how best to do this.
	In addition, the Government are examining the relationship between rents, work incentives and housing benefit as part of the work of the Comprehensive Spending Review.

Immigration: Criminal Convictions

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What measures are being taken by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate to monitor the incidence of criminal convictions among those who apply for asylum or permission to work in the United Kingdom.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Immigration and Nationality Directorate's application forms, including those for employment, have a section requiring disclosure of criminal convictions in the UK or any other country. Those who are seeking asylum do not complete an application form but will have their fingerprints checked against the Police National Fingerprint Identification System (IDENTI). Where a match is found, this will result in further checks being conducted via the police national computer. The Immigration and Nationality Directorate is also notified of convictions by the courts in the UK.

Invest Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans Invest Northern Ireland has to promote inward investment in East Antrim.

Lord Rooker: The focus of Invest NI's international sales and marketing effort is aggressively to promote all areas of Northern Ireland, including East Antrim, as attractive, viable locations for inward investment opportunities, in what is a very competitive global marketplace. This work is ongoing and is delivered through a network of offices worldwide.
	Invest NI's local offices in Northern Ireland continue to work closely with key stakeholders to understand and ensure that detailed information on sub-regional sales propositions, including East Antrim, is available to potential investors.
	In the period 2003–04 to date, Invest NI has brought 29 potential inward investors to the East Antrim constituency.

Invest Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What level of financial assistance has been provided by Invest Northern Ireland, in each year since 2000, to (a) the Larne Borough Council area; (b) the Carrickfergus Borough Council; and (c) the Newtownabbey Borough Council area.

Lord Rooker: The table below provides information on the amount of financial assistance offered by Invest NI (2002–03 to 2004–05) and its predecessor agencies, the Industrial Development Board and Local Enterprise Development Unit (2000–01 to 2001–02) in each financial year from 2000–01 to 2004–05 in Carrickfergus, Larne and Newtownabbey Council Areas.
	
		Assistance offered (£millions)
		
			  2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
			 Carrickfergus 4.6 1.2 2.2 0.3 0.7 
			 Larne 0.5 0.3 1.3 2.2 2.4 
			 Newtownabbey 19.7 3.6 6.6 3.1 4.3

NHS: Anti-depressants

Baroness Greenfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why there were over 80,000 prescriptions of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor anti-depressants to people under 18 years old in 2005, bearing in mind expert guidance that these drugs should not be prescribed to this age group to treat depression in view of their potential side effects.

Lord Warner: No medicines are licensed for the treatment of depressive illness in under-18s in the United Kingdom. A doctor may prescribe a medicine outside of its licensed indication if they consider it to be in the best interests of their patient. The Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) advised in 2003 that the majority of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) should not be used in the treatment of depressive illness in those under 18 years of age. Only fluoxetine (Prozac) has been shown in clinical trials to be effective in treating depressive illness in children and adolescents. Overall the balance of risks and benefits for fluoxetine in the treatment of depressive illness in under-18s is judged to be favourable.
	The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) issued a guideline on the treatment of depression in children and young people in September 2005. This guideline took into account CSM advice and recommended that where an anti-depressant was considered appropriate, fluoxetine should be prescribed. NICE recommended that citalopram and sertraline could be considered where fluoxetine has not worked or has not been tolerated.
	A recently published study (Drug Safety 2005;28(12):1151-1157) which looked specifically at the effect of CSM advice on the prescribing of SSRIs for depression in children and adolescents found that the CSM advice had had a significant effect in reversing the rising trend of anti-depressant prescribing to children and adolescents in primary care.
	The data which were used in newspaper reports to suggest that over 80,000 prescriptions of SSRIs were to people under 18 in 2005 do not reflect prescribing to children and adolescents under the age of 18 for the treatment of depressive illness. These figures include prescriptions of SSRIs to 18 year-olds, and to those under 18 years for indications other than depressive illness (two SSRIs, sertraline and fluvoxamine, are authorised for use in children and adolescents under 18 years with obsessive compulsive disorder).

NHS: Anti-depressants

Baroness Greenfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What evidence there is that the side effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor anti-depressants are less significant when prescribed for conditions other than depression.

Lord Warner: The side effect profiles for the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are described in the summary of product characteristics for prescribers and the patient information leaflet. There is no good evidence that the side effects of SSRIs are less significant when prescribed for conditions other than depression. The balance of risks and benefits is carefully considered in each indication prior to authorisation.

NHS: Antrim and Whiteabbey

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What the average waiting time in the accident and emergency department has been at (a) Antrim Area Hospital; and (b) Whiteabbey Area Hospital since March 2005.

Lord Rooker: The average waiting times from patient arrival in the accident and emergency department in Antrim Area Hospital to examination by a clinician from April 2005 to January 2006 are presented in the table below.
	
		Antrim Area Hospital
		
			 Month Average Waiting Time in A&E from Arrival to Examination 
			 April 2005 1 hour 
			 May 2005 1 hour 9 minutes 
			 June 2005 1 hour 6 minutes 
			 July 2005 1 hour 1 minute 
			 August 2005 53 minutes 
			 September 2005 1 hour 9 minutes 
			 October 2005 1 hour 7 minutes 
			 November 2005 1 hour 7 minutes 
			 December 2005 58 minutes 
			 January 2006 1 hour 4 minutes 
		
	
	Source: United Hospitals Group Health and Social Services Trust
	The average waiting times from patient arrival in the accident and emergency department in Whiteabbey Hospital to examination by a clinician from April 2005 to January 2006 are presented in the table below.
	
		Whiteabbey Hospital
		
			 Month Average Waiting Time in A&E from Arrival to Examination 
			 April 2005 42 minutes 
			 May 2005 52 minutes 
			 June 2005 53 minutes 
			 July 2005 42 minutes 
			 August 2005 36 minutes 
			 September 2005 32 minutes 
			 October 2005 37 minutes 
			 November 2005 31 minutes 
			 December 2005 35 minutes 
			 January 2006 36 minutes 
		
	
	Source: United Hospitals Group Health and Social Services Trust

NHS: Antrim and Whiteabbey

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What has been the average waiting time for (a) outpatients; and (b) inpatients at Antrim Area Hospital and Whiteabbey Area Hospital since March 2005.

Lord Rooker: Waiting list information is not collected centrally for individual hospitals. Information is available for United Hospitals Group Health and Social Services Trust which incorporates Antrim Area, Braid Valley, Carrickfergus, Mid Ulster, Moyle, Waveney and Whiteabbey Hospitals.
	Waiting list information is collected by time band. While it is therefore not possible to calculate the arithmetic mean (average) length of time waiting, the median or mid-point waiting time bands for, first, outpatients who were waiting for their first appointment and, secondly, inpatients who were waiting for treatment in the United Hospitals Health and Social Services Trust for quarter ending 31 March 2005 to quarter ending 30 September 2005 are shown in the table below.
	
		Median Waiting Time Band in United Hospitals Group Health and Social Services Trust (months)
		
			  At 31 March 2005 At30 June 2005 At 30 September 2005 
			 (a) Outpatients waiting for their first appointment 3-5 3-5 3-5 
			 (b) Inpatients waiting for treatment 0-2 0-2 0-2 
		
	
	Source:Departmental Information Returns CH1 Parts A and B and CH3 Parts 1 and 2.

NHS: Dentistry

Lord Campbell-Savours: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many patients on average National Health Service dentists treat each year.

Lord Warner: This information is not held centrally. The total number of patients registered with a National Health Service dentist (general dental services and personal dental services) as at 30 September 2005 is around 24.8 million.

NHS: Larne

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether there are plans to develop further the Moyle Hospital in Larne.

Lord Rooker: The Northern Health and Social Services Board (NHSSB) and trusts have submitted proposals to the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety aimed at ensuring that HPSS services and buildings throughout the NHSSB area are modern and fit for the purpose of meeting future healthcare needs.
	The proposals submitted by the board outline plans for the development of a new health and care centre in Larne which will provide a broad range of outpatient clinics, diagnostic services and community and social care services. The site for the new health and care centre will be determined through the business case process.
	The future development of services currently provided at the Moyle Hospital will be considered within the context of overall health and social care provision in the Larne area.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which posts in the Northern Ireland Assembly were filled in 2005; and for which posts staff have been recruited in 2006 or are currently being sought.

Lord Rooker: A total of 21 posts were filled in the NI Assembly during 2005. These comprised 14 doorkeeper/security staff, one deputy principal, two assistant Assembly clerks, two clerical officers and two programmers.
	No recruitment has occurred in 2006 to date. However, arrangements are currently under way to fill two educational officer posts.

Northern Ireland National Stadium

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will place in the Library of the House copies of the agreements they have made with the major sporting bodies in Northern Ireland involved in the proposed stadium at the Maze.

Lord Rooker: As I have informed the noble Lord, a business case and economic appraisal are required and appropriate documents will be placed in the Library at the appropriate time. This would also apply to any agreements made with the sporting bodies invited to participate in the proposed multi-sports stadium at the Maze/Long Kesh.

Northern Ireland National Stadium

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 31 January (WA 34) concerning the proposed national stadium at the Maze site in Northern Ireland, in what form the four major political parties agreed with the proposed site; and whether they will place copies of their agreement in the Library.

Lord Rooker: Each of the four main political party nominees to the Maze Consultation Panel reported at the final meeting of the panel on 25 February 2005 that their party endorsed the report published later that day.

Northern Ireland National Stadium

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether their proposals for a national stadium for Northern Ireland at the Maze require modification of the road system in that area; if so, what is the estimated cost of these modifications; or whether they are included in the £85 million estimate of the stadium.

Lord Rooker: A consortium of design, development and planning professionals are preparing a master plan for the entire Maze/Long Kesh site. This will include advice on the roads infrastructure implications of any proposals for developing the site. The master-planning consortium is due to report shortly. Any roads infrastructure costs will be in addition to the costs of the proposed stadium.

Northern Ireland National Stadium

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many sites in Northern Ireland have been considered for the proposed national stadium; when persons responsible for those sites were approached; which documents they were provided with; what was their response; and whether they offered to pay for a stadium at a selected site and not just at the Maze.

Lord Rooker: Twelve sites in Northern Ireland have been considered for the proposed multi-sports stadium. Persons responsible for those sites approached DCAL/SIB in May 2004 as a result of a public advertisement. No documents were provided as requirements were set out in a public advertisement. The responses received from the site owners contained details of site ownership, size, location and ground condition. No person responsible for any of the sites considered offered to pay for a stadium.

Northern Ireland National Stadium

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether a report was prepared during the 1980s into the siting of a national stadium for Northern Ireland; and, if so, what was its conclusion.

Lord Rooker: Neither the relative department nor the Sports Council is aware of any report prepared during the 1980s into the siting of a national stadium for Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland: Festivals

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 11 January (WA 67), whether the Probation Board for Northern Ireland requested a performance report on the festivals funded; and, if so, whether they will place a copy in the Library.

Lord Rooker: Further to the Written Answer of 11 January, the Probation Board for Northern Ireland has advised that it has received a performance report from the organisers of the Ardoyne Fleadh Project for funding given in February 2004; a copy has been placed in the Library. A report on the Fé-le an Phobail of August 2005 is expected at the end of the financial year and I have asked the chief executive of the probation board to forward a copy to the noble Lord when it is received.

Northern Ireland: Festivals

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 18 January (WA 115) concerning the Arts Council for Northern Ireland, why it is not possible to state the exact provision for the grant by the council for the West Belfast Irish Festival in 2004 and 2005.

Lord Rooker: Arts Council funding supports the activities of Fé-le an Phobail throughout each year, including the West Belfast Festival. As the grant aid included contribution towards salaries and general running costs, it is not possible to disaggregate the exact provision for the West Belfast Festival only.

Northern Ireland: Joint Authority Arrangements

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have assessed the possible impact of the de facto joint authority arrangements announced by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on 9 February on Northern Ireland's integral position within the United Kingdom.

Lord Rooker: None of the proposals announced by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on 9 February with regard to exploring the scope for greater economic co-operation between Northern Ireland and Ireland represents joint authority and there will be no impact on Northern Ireland's position within the UK. Such co-operation is simply a matter of common sense and will take place only where it is to our mutual benefit.

Northern Ireland: Prisoners' Groups

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 31 January (WA 37) concerning a grant of £41,712 for the North Belfast Prisoners Aid, whether they will place a copy of the application document and all related material in the Library of the House.

Lord Rooker: I confirm, further to my Written Answer on 31 January concerning the grant of £41,712 for the North Belfast Prisoners Aid, that a copy of the application document and all related material will be placed in the Library.

Northern Ireland: Victims' Groups

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 10 November 2005 (WA 106) on victims' groups in Northern Ireland in respect of funding, whether they will place in the Library of the House copies of the business cases of successful groups during 2004.

Lord Rooker: Only one grant requiring a full business case and economic appraisal was awarded to a victims group in 2004. This was a grant of £278,800 provided to the Ashton Community Trust under the PEACE II Programme. Following initial approval, changes in the circumstances of the project necessitated two additional economic appraisals before funding was provided. All three have been placed in the Library of the House.

Northern Ireland: Victims' Groups

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 31 January (WA 38) concerning grant aid of £146,744 for the WAVE Trauma Centre, whether they will place a copy of the application documents and all related material in the Library of the House.

Lord Rooker: I confirm, further to my Written Answer on 31 January concerning grant aid of £146,744 for the WAVE Trauma Centre, that a copy of the application documents and all related material will be placed in the Library.

Official Gifts

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will provide a breakdown of gifts received by Ministers with a value of over £140 between June 1997 and April 2001; and, in each case, what was the name of the Minister and associated department that received the gift, the date that the gift was received, from whom the gift was received, a description of the gift in question, the value of the gift and the final destination of the gift.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Information relating to gifts received by Ministers between June 1997 and April 2001 is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Official Gifts

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether it is the responsibility of the Minister or the relevant department to ensure that gifts received overseas worth more than the normal travellers' allowance are declared at importation to HM Revenue and Customs.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The rules on the declaration of gifts received by Ministers to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs are set out in Section 5 of the Ministerial Code.

Official Gifts: Ministry of Defence

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which gifts received overseas by Ministers within the Ministry of Defence since 2000 have been declared to HM Revenue and Customs on return to the United Kingdom as being over the normal travellers' allowances.

Lord Drayson: I refer to the Answer given by Lord Bassam on Thursday 16 February, (Official Report, col. WA 202).
	The Government publish an annual list of gifts received by Ministers valued at more than £140. The list provides details of the value of the gifts and whether they were retained by the department or purchased by the Minister. Copies of the lists, which cover information dating back to June 2001, are available in the Library of the House.
	The rules on the declaration of gifts received by Ministers to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs are set out in Chapter 5 of the Ministerial Code.

Official Gifts: Prime Minister

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether each gift valued over £140 and received by the Prime Minister in 2003–04 continues to be held by the Prime Minister's Office, as detailed by the Cabinet Office report published in July 2004; and, if not, where each gift is held; and
	Whether each gift valued over £140 and received by the Prime Minister from June 2001 to March 2003 continues to be held by the Prime Minister's Office, as detailed by the Cabinet Office report List of Ministerial Gifts Valued over £140 from June 2001; and, if not, where each gift is held.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The position remains as stated in the relevant lists, which are available in the Library.

Official Gifts: Prime Minister

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	For each gift received overseas over the normal travellers' allowance that was subsequently purchased in a personal capacity by the Prime Minister since June 2001, how much tax or duty was paid on each item by the Prime Minister; and on what date.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The rules on the declaration of gifts received by Ministers to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs are set out in the Ministerial Code. The Prime Minister's personal tax affairs are confidential, as with any other individual.

Official Gifts: Treasury

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which gifts received overseas by Ministers in HM Treasury since 2000 have been declared to HM Revenue and Customs on return to the United Kingdom as being over the normal travellers' allowances.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given to him on 16 February by the government spokesman for the Cabinet Office, (Official Report, col. WA 202).

Passports: Interviews

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Where they propose to locate the new passport interview offices in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland; and
	What is the estimated cost of (a) setting up, and (b) running the 69 new passport interview offices; and
	How many staff are to be employed in the 69 new passport interview offices; and
	By what date they propose to have the 69 new passport interview offices open to interview applicants; and
	What financial assistance they will make available to applicants on low incomes or student grants to assist in travel and other expenses to attend the compulsory passport interviews.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Procurement negotiations for the offices being established to carry out interviews of adult first-time passport applicants are still in progress and confirmation of the availability of premises is awaited. An announcement of office locations will be made as soon as possible.
	Commercial contracts relating to the delivery and maintenance of the interview office network remain under negotiation. For reasons of commercial confidentiality, it is not possible to publish estimates of cost. The estimated costs for the first year of operation are included in the total estimated unit cost per passport of £57.93 for 2006–07 published in the UKPS corporate plan.
	The establishment of the interview office network will create the equivalent of 464 full-time jobs. There will be opportunities for many of these jobs to be taken by people seeking part-time work. For this reason we expect the number of people to be recruited to be over 600.
	All the new interview offices are planned to be opened during the last quarter of 2006.
	In designing the proposed network, the social and transport costs of travel to interview were carefully considered, as well as the costs of setting up new offices, in order achieve an optimum balance. Many people will be able to minimise costs by choosing to be interviewed near their place of work or study. The additional costs of attending for interview are therefore likely to be minor in relation to the cost of the overseas travel which the passport will facilitate. There are no plans to provide assistance with such costs.

Pensions

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What would the annual cost savings be of (a) postponing the payable date for state pensions until age 67 instead of 65; and (b) of making public sector pensions payable at age 62 instead of 60.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: State pension age is 60 for women and 65 for men. These will be equalised between 2010 and 2020. We estimate that, once pension ages have been equalised, the annual saving if the state pension age was raised from 65 to 67 would be about £7 billion in 2005–06 prices (see notes). This estimate takes into account changes to benefits paid to both pensioners and for those below state pension age.
	If normal pension age were to be raised to 62 for all employees who currently have a normal pension age of 60 within the three main unfunded public service schemes, those for the NHS, teachers and the Civil Service, the total estimated annual savings in the accruing cost of pensions would be approximately £0.5 billion.

Police Service of Northern Ireland

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 11 January (WA 76), why they will not answer parliamentary Questions relating to the procedures and processes employed by the Police Service of Northern Ireland, bearing in mind that the service is accountable to Ministers.

Lord Rooker: The noble Lord's Questions on operational matters are being treated no differently from similar Questions in the other place.
	Parliamentary Questions about matters which fall under the direct operational responsibility of the chief constable, rather than government policy, may be answered by directing the questioner to raise the matter directly with the chief constable. This is in line with Cabinet Office guidance for officials on parliamentary Questions, a copy of which is in the Library. It is also in line with the practice applied to other non-departmental public bodies.

Police Service of Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many weapons for use with attenuating energy projectiles are held by the Police Service of Northern Ireland's East Belfast District Command Unit; what procedures are used when the weapons are issued; and who authorises their issue and in what circumstances; and
	What training is provided to Police Service of Northern Ireland officers in the use of weapons used to fire attenuating energy projectiles; and what are the guidelines for their deployment.

Lord Rooker: I am advised that the Chief Constable has set the number of attenuating energy projectile (AEP) launchers for the PSNI at a suitable level to allow for deployment in policing scenarios commensurate with the operational need. The number of AEP launchers deployed in East Belfast will be sufficient at all times to meet the operational needs of that district. Similarly, the training practice is also under the operational control of the chief constable.
	I am also advised that procedural issues of deployment and authorisation are set out in the Police Service of Northern Ireland Guidance on the use of AEP, which was issued on 21 June 2005. I have placed a copy of this document in the Library.

Police: Crime Prevention

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, subject to local requirements, priority is given to particular types of crime when allocating police time and resources, in particular to crime prevention.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Priority and deployment of police resources is a matter for the relevant chief officer. The Basic Command Unit (BCU) fund was announced as part of the police funding settlement on 5 December 2002. It provided £50 million per annum for police BCUs, which are at the forefront of local policing. Grants were targeted towards forces with BCUs in high crime areas to help reduce crime in partnership with crime and disorder reduction partnerships. BCU commanders, working with other partners including local authorities, use the extra funding to address those problems which affect their communities. In considering priorities for spend, BCU commanders should also take into account delivery at the local level of the priorities set out in the National Community Safety Plan 2006–09, incorporating the National Policing Plan 2006–09: tackling anti-social behaviour and disorder; reducing volume, street, drugs-related, violent and gun crime in line with local and national targets; combating serious and organised crime operating across force boundaries; and increasing the number of offences brought to justice.

Prisons: Commissioning and Contestability Stakeholder Group

Baroness Stern: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Who are the members of the commissioning and contestability stakeholder group set up by the Home Office in connection with its plans for the future of the prison and probation services.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: There is no commissioning and contestability stakeholder group. Baroness Scotland chairs the NOMS stakeholder forum which meets every three months and discusses a range of issues.

Schools: Belfast

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many children (a) attended nursery facilities; (b) attended primary facilities; and (c) were enrolled in each primary school in Belfast for each of the past five years.

Lord Rooker: The requested information has been placed in the Library.

Schools: Belfast

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much money has been spent on each primary school in Belfast in each of the past five years on (a) maintenance; (b) repairs; and (c) improvements.

Lord Rooker: The information requested is not readily available and will take some time to collate. I will therefore write to the noble Lord with the details requested as soon as possible.

Schools: Belfast

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the cost of each appraisal and consultation carried out into primary education in the Belfast area in each of the past five years.

Lord Rooker: Education authorities are required to undertake a consultation on each proposal for rationalisation. Over the past five years there have been four rationalisation proposals. The Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS) estimates that it incurred a total expenditure of approximately £10,000 in regard to the preparatory and consultation work associated with a closure of a maintained primary school. The Belfast Education and Library Board estimate that it costed around £9,000 for the proposal to amalgamate Sydenham PS and Strand PS, which included production of an economic appraisal. The board has undertaken a consultation this year on a proposed closure of Mersey Street Primary School, which has been estimated to cost £500. This development proposal is a live issue and no decision has yet been taken.
	
		
			 Education Authority Estimated Cost (£) 
			 2001–02  
			 None  
			 2002–03  
			 CCMS development proposal to close St Patrick's PS. 10,000 
			 2003–04  
			 None  
			 2004–05  
			 BELB development proposal and Economic Appraisal to amalgamate Sydenham PS and Strand PS 9,000 
			 2005–06  
			 BELB development proposal to close Mersey Street Primary School 500

Schools: Knockavoe Resource Centre, Strabane

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What arrangements are in place to facilitate the transfer of students at Knockavoe School and Resource Centre in Strabane to Health and Social Services Adult Training Centre provision in the Western Health and Social Services Board area; how many existing Knockavoe students will be unable to avail themselves of adult training centre provision in the Western Health and Social Services Board area; and why such provision will not be available to those who require it.

Lord Rooker: Due to capacity issues, it would be difficult to facilitate the transfer of students at Knockavoe School and Resource Centre in Strabane to adult training centre provision in the Western Health and Social Services Board (WHSSB) area. The WHSSB is currently working with Foyle Health and Social Services Trust to facilitate the transfer of the existing three Knockavoe students who are affected.

Schools: Knockavoe Resource Centre, Strabane

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why the newly built Behavioural Unit at Knockavoe School and Resource Centre in Strabane is not operational.

Lord Rooker: The Western Education and Library Board has confirmed that accommodation is available at Knockavoe Special School for a behavioural unit. This accommodation is currently being used, on a temporary basis, for education other than at school (EOTAS) provision in the Strabane area. This group includes those pupils who have been excluded from school for reasons related to their social, emotional and behavioural difficulties. It is envisaged that the behavioural unit is unlikely to be established until September 2007 at the earliest.

Schools: Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much was spent on (a) teachers and (b) ancillary staff in each school in Northern Ireland in each of the past five years.

Lord Rooker: The spend on teachers and non-teaching staff at individual school level for all controlled and maintained schools is set out in the local management of schools outturn statements published by each education and library board. Copies of the statements for each of the years in the five-year period 1999–2000 to 2003–04 will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses. Not all statements for 2004–05 have been published and the outstanding statements will be placed in the Libraries as soon as they become available. The information provided in the table below shows overall expenditure on teaching and non-teaching staff in controlled and maintained schools in Northern Ireland over the period 1999–2000 to 2003–04. The costs for grant maintained integrated, voluntary grammar and special schools are excluded from this response.
	
		Financial Information 1999–2000 to 2003–04
		
			  1999–2000 2000–01* 2001–02* 2002–03* 2003–04* 
			  £'000s £'000s £'000s £'000s £'000s 
			 Expenditure on teaching staff 457,788 483,989 513,600 541,329 559,416 
			 Expenditure on non- teaching staff 66,493 72,717 81,577 92,576 113,561 
		
	
	* Figures from 2000–01 to 2003–04 are on an accruals basis rather than a cash basis.

Single Non-emergency Number

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress has been made on the development of the new national non-emergency number.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Significant progress has been made with the new single non-emergency number (SNEN)—a new service to offer the public direct access, via a new three digit number, to community safety advice, information and action, while freeing up the 999 emergency service to handle emergency incidents. The SNEN service will be rolled out across England and Wales in a number of waves. The first wave will see the service launch in five areas in summer 2006 and the service will be operating nationally by 2008. The SNEN service will be provided by local authorities and police forces working in partnership to deliver services and handle calls. Core services for SNEN partnerships are: vandalism, graffiti and other deliberate damage to property, noisy neighbours or loud parties, intimidation and harassment, abandoned vehicles, rubbish or litter lying around (including fly tipping), people being drunk or rowdy in public places, drug related anti-social behaviour, and street lighting. Wave one involves partnerships between police forces and local authorities in areas of Hampshire and Isle of Wight, Northumbria, Leicestershire and Rutland, South Yorkshire and South Wales. SNEN operators will deal with inquiries over the phone by giving advice and information where needed, arranging for action to be taken when appropriate or by directing the caller to a person or organisation who can help them. The service will operate around the clock and will put callers directly in touch with specially trained operators, employed by local authority and police force partnerships, for information and advice. The SNEN will complement rather than duplicate existing services and aims to improve the delivery of these services by facilitating a better co-ordinated response by local agencies. Further information is available at the following website at http://snen.homeoffice.gov.uk.

Terrorism: Deportation of Suspects

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What measures they are taking to secure further diplomatic assurances from other countries regarding the deportation of suspected terrorists; whether they are currently in discussion with other countries concerning diplomatic assurances; and what progress they have made in these discussions.

Lord Triesman: The United Kingdom has signed memoranda of understanding (MoUs) in respect of persons subject to deportation with Jordan, Libya and the Lebanon and is in discussion with a number of other countries, including Algeria. Copies of the signed MoUs have been placed in the Library.

Urban Regeneration: Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 25 January (WA 183) concerning Making Belfast Work and the Londonderry Regeneration Initiative, why it would be a special administrative exercise to supply the records of public funding provided for a parliamentary Answer.

Lord Rooker: A special administrative exercise to obtain this information is required as this information is not readily available electronically. Supplying this information involves searching files and obtaining data from a number of different sources which will necessarily take time.
	Since this Question was initially raised in December, my officials have been working on providing the information requested and, with the exception of the action plan element of Making Belfast Work (MBW) funding which involves a separate exercise of interrogating files and IT systems having to be carried out across all departments and entails disproportionate costs, we are now in a position to respond. I will make this information available in the Library.

US Government Aircraft: Use of UK Military Bases

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Drayson on 9 January (WA 28), first, whether they have the right to know the names of passengers on all aircraft owned by, operated on behalf of, or operated at the request of the United States Government or any of their agencies which land at United Kingdom military airbases, whether for refuelling, transit or any other purposes; secondly, whether, if they have such a right, it has been exercised in the past five years and, if so, in respect of how many passengers; thirdly, whether they will request the names of such passengers who have landed in the United Kingdom in 2005; and, fourthly, whether, if they have no such right to request names, they will take steps to acquire it.

Lord Drayson: My Answer of 9 January followed consultation between relevant departments (including the Home Office, FCO, and the Department for Transport). It also reflected the fact that procedures at military air stations are consistent with Wider Immigration Service policies, to the extent that details of individuals who stay in the UK are passed to HM Revenue and Customs and the Immigration Service. These details are not necessarily retained by the MoD and where aircraft simply transit through the airfield, to refuel for example, and passengers do not leave the airfield, the name of the pilot and aircraft owner are recorded, but airfields are not required to record passenger details. Therefore we cannot determine how many passengers have passed through military airfields in the past five years.
	The issue of whether or not the Government have the right to passenger information is covered by immigration legislation in the form of paragraphs 27 (2) and 27 (B) of Schedule 2 to the 1971 Immigration Act and the subsequent orders, the Immigration (Particulars of Passengers and Crew) (Amendment) Order 1975 and The Immigration (Passengers Information) Order 2000. Carriers are not obliged to provide this information unless it has been requested by an immigration officer in writing. As these powers are exercised in accordance with risk on an intelligence-led basis, and wherever there is good reason in the context of the immigration control, the Immigration Service has no plans to exercise them in relation to these flights.

Waterways Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answers by the Lord Rooker on 18 January (WA 124), why the bulk purchase of chocolates for the staff of Waterways Ireland in 2002 and 2003 was not recorded in the minutes of the board meetings, as indicated in the Answers.

Lord Rooker: My Answer of 18 January (col. WA 124) does not indicate that the 2002 and 2003 decisions were recorded in the minutes of board meetings. Waterways Ireland does not have a board.

Waterways Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 31 January (WA 50) concerning Waterways Ireland, why other staff in the management group with the necessary experience, who met the criteria for appointment at that level, were denied the opportunity to be considered for the post of director of marketing and communications; and
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 10 November 2005 (WA 114), why other staff in Waterways Ireland who met the criteria for the post of head of administration in marketing were denied the opportunity to be considered for that post.

Lord Rooker: I refer the noble Lord to my Answer of 6 June 2005 (col. WA 36).
	There is nothing further I can usefully add.

Waterways Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 18 January (WA 124), on what dates quotations were sought for the bulk purchase of chocolates by Waterways Ireland in 2002 and 2003; and on what date quotations were accepted by Waterways Ireland; and
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 18th January (WA 124), from whom the three quotations were sought in 2002 for the bulk purchase of chocolates by Waterways Ireland; and from whom the quotation was returned.

Lord Rooker: I understand from Waterways Ireland that on 3 December 2002 quotations were sought for the purchase of chocolates from:
	Mangans Cash and Carry, Sligo
	Holmes Cash and Carry, Enniskillen
	Gilmartins Cash and Carry, Carrick-on-Shannon.
	A quotation from Gilmartins Cash and Carry was received and accepted on 6 December 2002.
	In 2003 a quotation was received and accepted on 4 December.

Waterways Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What increases in pay have been awarded to the chief executive of Waterways Ireland since his appointment in 2001; and on what basis or criteria they have been awarded.

Lord Rooker: The chief executive of Waterways Ireland was appointed in 2001 with a starting salary of £64,000. This was increased to £66,560 with effect from 1 April 2001 and £70,725 with effect from 1 April 2002. This was in line with pay awards to the Senior Civil Service in Northern Ireland.
	He has been awarded pay amounts of £76,700 with effect from 1 April 2003 and £86,590 with effect from 1 April 2004 in line with a decision made by the North/South Ministerial Council on 8 March 2005. The criteria for these two awards were the body's performance, compliance with corporate governance requirements and the chief executive's formal reporting to the sponsor departments.
	No further pay awards have been approved for the chief executive of Waterways Ireland.